Sail and Power Courses

America’s #1 Sail and Power Cruising School

Offshore Sailing School is the longest running sailing education company in the United States. It was founded in 1964 by Olympian, America’s Cup competitor and National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Colgate, when no other sailing schools and no certification programs existed.

Over more than 55 years, Steve Colgate and his team, have fine-tuned his original course roster, and added a progressive group of additional sailing courses that are not available from other sailing educators at the expertise level provided by Offshore Sailing School.

Steve and Doris Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School has empowered more than 150,000 adults and their families to learn how to sail, learn how to cruise sailboats and powerboats, and race sailboats. The Colgate sailing enthusiasm permeates throughout the company, as explained in the latest video interview with Steve and Doris Colgate.

Most Offshore Sailing School (OSS) courses come with US Sailing (USAA) Certification. Those that do not reach far beyond any certification programs. Below is a list of all the courses that OSS offers, and the designated course numbers and certifications for each where applicable.

Taught on 43′-50′ cruising monohulls and 40′-48′ cruising catamarans in a six full-day format. USSA Basic Cruising and USSA Bareboat Cruising Certification earned in this one course, with USSA Catamaran Endorsement if taking course on a catamaran. The USSA Bareboat Cruising Certification enables you to apply for US Sailing’s International Proficiency Certification (IPC) which is required to charter a sail or powerboat in many Mediterranean destinations.

Taught on 40′-48′ cruising catamarans in a six full-day format. USSA Basic Cruising and USSA Bareboat Cruising Certification earned in this one course, with USSA Catamaran Endorsement if taking course on a catamaran. The USSA Bareboat Cruising Certification enables you to apply for US Sailing’s International Proficiency Certification (IPC) which is required to charter a sailing yacht or power yacht in many Mediterranean destinations.

The ultimate ready-to-cruise course taught in eight full days, with first two days (OSS 101) on the Colgate 26, and the next six days (OSS 103/104) on a 43′-50′ cruising monohull, All three USSA Certifications including USSA Basic Keelboat (101), USSA Basic Cruising (103), and USSA Bareboat Cruising (104) are earned in this one course over an 8-day period. The USSA Bareboat Cruising Certification enables you to apply for US Sailing’s International Proficiency Certification (IPC) which is required to charter a sailing yacht or power yacht in many Mediterranean and other destinations abroad.

This comprehensive ready-to-cruise catamaran course is taught in eight full days, with first two days (OSS 101) on the Colgate 26, and the next six days (OSS 103/104/114) on a 40′-48′ cruising catamaran, Three USSA Certifications earned include USSA Basic Keelboat (101), USSA Basic Cruising (103), and USSA Bareboat Cruising (104) plus USSA Catamaran Endorsement (114). The USSA Bareboat Cruising Certification enables you to apply for US Sailing’s International Proficiency Certification (IPC)which is required to charter a sail or powerboat in many Mediterranean and other destinations abroad.

Starts with the two-day Coastal Navigation course (OSS 105) described above while staying ashore, then continues with the six-day Coastal Passage Making course (OSS 106) as you learn to stand watches, navigate long distances, and more. USSA Coastal Navigation and USSA Coastal Passage Making Certifications earned.

A wow course that takes you out of sight of land over a six day period, sailing into the night, standing watches, and more. Taught on 43′-50′ monohulls. USSA Offshore Passage Making Certification earned.

A super-combo course, taught in 10 full days, with the first four days ashore for Celestial Navigation (OSS 107), and six full days on a 43′-50′ monohull as described above. USSA Celestial Navigation and USSA Offshore Passage Making Certification earned in this one course.

An incredibly intense course taught in seven full days on Colgate 26 keelboats. This is the “boot camp” of sailboat racing instruction, with North U. coaches and OSS instructors working with you throughout the week. Performance Racing Certificate issued with this course.

Taught in 10 full days, all on Colgate 26 keelboats. Performance Sailing (OSS 102) takes up the first three days, followed by the seven-day Performance Race Week course described above. USSA Performance Sailing Certification earned for the first three days, certificates earned fort Performance Race Week.

Taught on spacious 37′-48′ power catamarans in six full days format. USSA US Powerboating Certification earned.

OSS 114 – Catamaran Endorsement

This is currently not a stand alone course because it is totally included in the Live Aboard Cruising Course (103/104/114) and Fast Track to Cruising Courses (101/103/104/114) described above. When you take the Fast Track to Cruising Course on a Catamaran (101, 103, 104, 114), the first two days are learning the basics on a fast and fun Colgate 26 while staying ashore, and the next six days are totally aboard a beautiful 40′ to 48′ cruising catamaran.

Why Did We Skip Some Numbers?

We’ve got a couple of BIG surprises coming, so stay tuned!

“A doctor and avid sailor highly recommended the Colgate school and said if we were going to do it then we should do it right! Offshore Sailing School was a tremendous experience that provided a whole new world of opportunities for us to explore. This was an investment in the future and now our future is unlimited!”

OSS 101/103/104 plus 114 – Fast Track To Cruising®: This most popular sailing course takes you from couch to captain’s chair on a Colgate 26 and 40′-48′ cruising catamaran and 43′-50′ monohull yachts, and prepares you for big sailboat cruising in one week

OSs 107/108 – Fast Track Offshore Passage Making: The final course in the US Sailing Certification program, 4 days of celestial navigation classes ashore, then 6 days of open water sailing, logging 600 miles, 250 of which are 50 miles from shore

Everything is first class. Offshore delivers a value proposition – excellent value for the price paid and instruction received. The books, the instructor, the hotel classroom, the location and the boat were all first class and well worth the money and time spent.”

Colgate 26

The Colgate 26 is used in all Learn to Sail, Performance Sailing and Racing courses. Designed by Steve Colgate and naval architect Jim Taylor, the Colgate 26 is a popular high performance keelboat, and used to train plebes and cadets at the U.S. Naval and Coast Guard Academies. Read more...

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